By Daily Sports Nigeria on April 29, 2025

After a promising but slightly below-par start to her 2025 Diamond League season, Tobi Amusan is gearing up for her next challenge at the Shanghai Diamond League on May 3, 2025, The PUNCH reports.

The Nigerian world record holder in the women’s 100m hurdles will aim to improve upon her fourth-place finish at the season opener in Xiamen, China, where she clocked a time of 12.74 seconds.

Amusan’s first race of the season, which marked her return to the discipline since the Paris 2024 Olympics, saw her finish behind reigning world champion Danielle Williams, who claimed victory with a time of 12.53s. The USA’s Grace Stark and South Africa’s Marione Fourie placed second and third, respectively. Despite not finishing on the podium, Amusan showed promise in a competitive field, indicating her readiness to go toe-to-toe with the best this season.

As one of the most consistent performers in the Diamond League, Amusan’s name remains a fixture in the top ranks having previously won the Diamond League title three times with consecutive triumph in 2021, 2022, and 2023. The record and her preparation over the off-season, including working with Usain Bolt’s former coach, Glen Mills, she is eager to push herself further and regain her competitive edge as she heads into Shanghai.

The entry list announced shows that the competition in Shanghai will be fierce once again, as Amusan faces a talented field of athletes, many of whom have impressive personal bests and world rankings. Williams, with a season’s best of 12.53 seconds, will be a key contender, alongside the Stark, who is currently ranked fifth in the world. Stark clocked a 12.58 seconds in Xiamen and will be aiming to build on that form in Shanghai. Fourie, ranked 19th globally, with a season’s best of 12.62 seconds and a personal best of 12.49 seconds.

Bahamas’ Devynne Charlton, ranked seventh in the world with a personal best of 12.44 seconds, will add to the depth of the field. Other notable names in the entry list include Nia Ali of the USA, ranked 15th with a season’s best of 13.23 seconds, and Pia Skrzyszowska of Poland, whose personal best of 12.37 seconds places her as a potential threat. China’s Wu Yanni, ranked 27th, completes the field with a season’s best of 13.00 seconds.

The Shanghai Diamond League is one of Asia’s most prestigious athletics events, offering an electric atmosphere and an opportunity for athletes to perform on a high-performance track. It is part of the wider Wanda Diamond League series, which has a rigorous selection process leading to the final in Zurich. For Amusan, the race in Shanghai is a crucial step in her chase for the coveted Diamond Trophy and a chance to build momentum ahead of the World Athletics Championships later this year in Tokyo.

Source Punch Ng

Posted April 29, 2025

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